Minnehaha Falls, Minneapolis: The Ultimate 2026 Visitor’s Guide
Minnehaha Falls in peak spring flow – the moment every Minnesotan waits for all winter.
Fifty-three feet of pure drama drop straight into a limestone gorge just ten minutes from downtown Minneapolis and the airport. For more than 150 years, Minnehaha Falls has been the city’s most photographed, most painted, and most beloved natural landmark.
It’s where Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s imaginary Hiawatha courted his “Laughing Water,” where Victorian tourists arrived by steamboat, where F. Scott Fitzgerald picnicked, and where today you can slurp raw oysters at Sea Salt Eatery while watching the water thunder past.
This is the only waterfall in the United States immortalized by a major 19th-century poem before the poet ever saw it — and somehow it still lives up to the hype.
Quick Facts: Everything at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | 53 feet (16 m) |
| Location | Minnehaha Regional Park, South Minneapolis |
| Admission | 100% free |
| Parking (summer) | $3 first hour, $2 each additional (pay by app or kiosk) |
| Parking (Nov–March) | Mostly free |
| Best photo time | Morning light (east-facing) or golden hour |
| Walk behind the falls? | Yes – summer & fall only |
| Dog friendly | Yes, leashed |
| Wheelchair access | Upper overlook & pergola – yes Base of falls – no (150+ stairs) |
| Distance from MSP airport | 8 minutes by car |
| Distance from Mall of America | 12 minutes |
How to Get Here in 2025 (Parking Secrets Included)
By Car
Address for GPS: 4801 S Minnehaha Dr, Minneapolis, MN 55417
By Light Rail (the smartest way)
Take the Blue Line to 50th Street / Minnehaha Park station. Exit the platform, walk five minutes south along the trail, and you’re standing at the falls. No parking stress, no fees, and you get bonus scenery.
By Bike or E-Scooter
The park sits on the Grand Rounds National Scenic Byway. Lock up at the many racks near Sea Salt Eatery.
The Real History (Beyond the Poem)
Most people think “Minnehaha” means “laughing water.” It doesn’t.
In Dakota (Sioux), mni = water and ȟaȟa = waterfall. So the name simply means “waterfall.” The “laughing” part was Longfellow’s romantic invention — he published The Song of Hiawatha in 1855 without ever leaving Massachusetts.
But the poem worked its magic. By the 1880s, steamboats were unloading thousands of tourists daily at the “Princess Depot” (the tiny adorable train station still standing today). Women in bustles and men in bowler hats posed for cabinet cards in front of the falls. Minnehaha became America’s first viral natural attraction.
Timeline of a Legend
- 10,000 years ago – River Warren (a monstrous glacial river) carves the Mississippi gorge; Minnehaha Creek begins eroding its own mini-gorge
- Pre-colonization – Sacred gathering place for Dakota people
- 1852 – First permanent European-American settlers
- 1885–1889 – Horace Cleveland designs the park; land purchased for $47,000 (about $1.5 million today)
- 1906 – The darling Minnehaha Depot is built (now a museum)
- 1964–1993 – The “dry years”: groundwater pumping for cooling buildings lowers the water table; falls sometimes trickle or stop completely
- 1990s–2010s – Massive restoration: wells shut off, limestone grouting, creek re-naturalization
- Today – The falls flow reliably year-round for the first time in decades
What to Do: The Definitive List (Ranked by Wow-Factor)
1. Walk Behind the Falls (Yes, Really)
When water levels are moderate (usually June–October), a narrow trail ducks behind the curtain. You’ll get misty, you’ll take the best selfie of your life, and you’ll understand why the Dakota called it “curling water.”
2. Watch the Falls Freeze Solid in Winter
January and February turn the entire 53-foot drop into a glowing blue ice palace. On sunny days it sparkles like Superman’s Fortress of Solitude. Bring microspikes — the stairs become an ice luge.
3. Eat at Sea Salt Eatery
Order the scallop po’boy or the crab claw bucket, grab a local craft beer, and sit on the patio literally ten feet from the falling water. Lines can reach 45 minutes on summer weekends — go before noon or after 2 PM.
4. Hike Downstream to the Mississippi
A flat, gorgeous two-mile round-trip trail follows Minnehaha Creek under limestone bluffs to the exact spot where the creek pours into the Mississippi River. Look for bald eagles overhead.
5. Visit the Longfellow House & Gardens
A 1930s replica of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Cambridge home, complete with period gardens. Free tours on summer weekends.
6. Bike the Grand Rounds to Hidden Falls & Fort Snelling
From the park you can pedal the entire 55-mile Grand Rounds loop or just head south to the much quieter Hidden Falls Regional Park.
Season-by-Season Magic
| Season | What It Looks Like | Crowd Level | Best Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Apr–May) | Roaring, misty, chocolate-brown water | Medium | Photography |
| Summer (Jun–Aug) | Lush green, walk-behind possible | Very High | Picnic + Sea Salt |
| Fall (Sep–Oct) | Golden trees framing the falls | Medium-High | Leaf peeping |
| Winter (Dec–Mar) | Frozen ice column, fairy-tale beauty | Low | Peaceful walks & ice photos |
Photography Guide – Best Spots & Times
- Main overlook at sunrise (east light hits the falls perfectly)
- Behind the falls (summer only)
- From the footbridge downstream at blue hour
- Frozen falls from the lower trail with a telephoto lens
- Drone shots (permit required inside park boundaries)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you still walk behind Minnehaha Falls in 2026?
Yes — when the creek flow is below approximately 150 cfs (usually mid-June through October). Park staff close the trail during dangerous high water.
Is Minnehaha Falls ever dry now?
No. After decades of restoration, the falls flow year-round. The lowest flow occurs late summer and during extreme cold snaps, but you’ll always see water.
Is the park safe at night?
The park officially closes at 10 PM (some areas at sunset). It’s well-lit and patrolled, but like any urban park, stick to populated areas after dark.
Can you swim in the falls?
No swimming is allowed in the plunge pool (strong currents and rocks). Wading in the shallow creek downstream is common and tolerated.
Where do locals go to avoid crowds?
Early weekday mornings, winter weekdays, or the lower trails toward the Mississippi River. Most tourists never leave the main overlook.
Why Minnehaha Still Matters in 2026
In an age of Instagram hotspots and overtourism, Minnehaha Falls somehow still feels authentic. It’s free. It’s dramatic in every season. It’s ten minutes from an international airport yet surrounded by old-growth oaks and limestone cliffs.
It’s the place where a 19th-century poet’s imagination collided with geology and created a myth that still draws millions — and where, on any given Tuesday, you can stand alone behind a curtain of water and feel like the only person on earth.
Come once, and you’ll understand why Minneapolis has never stopped bragging about its “laughing water.”
Official site: Minnehaha Regional Park – Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
See you at the falls.
